Thursday, April 14, 2011

The Downer Party Are On The Up

Picture a dark, dusty Oakland basement piled high with equipment and half broken instruments. Four obsessed musicians blasted on caffeine, writing and recording hook after hook amidst a sea of Tecate cans and earthquake kits.

At first listen you'd never know that "Cities", the new EP from SF band The Downer Party, was written, recorded, and produced by the band - it's filled with rich, textured sounds and toe-tapping jams. But once you've had the chance to explore the EP's mood and tonality, it's easy to imagine a setting of four engrossed band mates locked in a moldy room, reveling in their experiences, and loving every moment of it.

Comprised of members of several notable Bay Area bands (French Miami, Elephone, Two Seconds), The Downer Party set about creating Cities; an album that's as much a chronicle of growing up in the Bay Area as it is a revelry in the peculiarities of young love in an urban environment. As singer Sierra Frost puts it “Cities is about being disconnected from the people you care about and the attempts we all make to cope with that weirdness. It’s about home and removedness... you know?”

Taking influence from northwest rock of the late 80's and early 90's, Cities is both earnest and energetic. It's well lit with catchy hooks, grimy guitars, and irresistible "fun songs about crappy situations". It reminds us what life was like at 20 when the world just begins to awkwardly make sense - when one can either inflict self isolation or go out and get laid.

Disclaimer

MP3s on the POP! Stereo are available for a limited time only and are intended for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, or read about support the artists by actually purchasing their albums, going to shows, and buying their merchandise.

If you own copyright to one of the songs posted and would like it removed, email us at djpaulpop@yahoo.com.